Compare towns
Chenango vs Hamlin vs Waltham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chenango has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Hamlin has the most homeowners (89.3%).
Waltham has the most expensive homes ($330k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Chenango | Hamlin | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,787Highest |
8,652 |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41±2.8Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.9±3.7 8% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chenango and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Chenango and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,646±$9k 7% above U.S. |
$83,510±$9kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14kHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $172,000±$9k 48% below U.S. |
$166,200±$9kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$329,700±$51kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,038±$97Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,062±$137 25% below U.S. |
$1,096±$113Highest 22% below U.S. |
| Waltham and Hamlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,700Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$4,343 39% above U.S. |
$5,714Highest 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±8.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.6%±13.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hamlin and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham and Chenango are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #233 of 484 in NY | — | — |
| School district | CHENANGO FORKS CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT · CHENANGO VALLEY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | — | — |
| High school in town | CHENANGO FORKS HIGH SCHOOL | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.